Manual control means for bucket cleaners



June 10, 1930. H, B, VA C0" 1,762,492

MANUAL CONTROL MEANS FOR BUCKET CLEANERS Filed Jan. 27, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet l June 10, 1930. H. s. VAN scon' 1,762,492

MANUAL CONTROL MEANS FOR BUCKET CLEANERS Fi1 ed Jan. 27, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 10, 1939 UNITE STATES ATENT OFFICE HARRY B.VAN SGOIT, OF FINDLAY, OHIO, ASfiIGNOR TO THE BUCKEYE TRACTION DITCHERCOMPANY, 01E FINDLAY, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO MANUAL CONTROL MEANSFOR- BUCKET CLEANERS Application filed January 27, 1928. Serial No.249,934.

This invention relates to traction ditchers of the type having anendless series of travcling buckets, but more particularly to cleanersfor such buckets.

Objects of this invention are to provide a bucket cleaner for tractionditchers operable under normal conditions, but is adapted to moveautomatically away from the buckets upon encountering a force in excessof a predetermined maximum, and has mechanical means for returning thecleaner to operative position while the machine is idle or in operation;to provide a cleaner which is bodily movable away from the buckets, andhandoperated means remote from the cleaner for movino the cleaner toformer position or. ad usting the position thereof during the operationof the machine; to provide friction means for normally holding theluicket cleaner in proper position for use, but which is yieldable toanother position upon encountering an excessive force, together withseparate means for returning the cleaner to normal usetul position; toprovide a bucket cleaner which is bodily movable away from cleaningposition and separate means for manually adjusting the position of thecleaner; and. to provide a bucket cleaner constructed, arranged andoperated as herein after described.

An important phase of this invention re sides in the provision of a.bucket cleaner for ditching or trenching machines, which isbodilymovable away from the buckets, together with mechanical means forreturning the cleaner to normal position. The operating means may bemanual and arranged at a place remote from the cleaner in position to bereadily controlled by the operator of the machine so that the cleanermay be readily and conveniently returned to clean ing position. Brakenieans may also be employed for yieldingly holding the cleaner in apredetermined position, but whichis adapted to permit movement of thecleaner when an excessive force is exerted thereagainst by an unyieldingobject in the operation of the machine.

The invention is shown by way of illuschine having a main frameincluding a pair ot upright beams l. to which braces 2 are suitablysecured. hlountcd on one side oi. the uprights l are bearing boxes 3 toreceive a. transverse shaft 4-, and :1 pair of sprockets 5 are securedin opposite relation to the shaft 4:. Trained about the spr ckets 5 areendless chains 6, to which are connected at suitable intervals, diggingbuckets 7, which are.

adapted to dig into the ground and discharge their load when passingaround the sprockets 5, as will be well understood.

Fixed to one end of the shaft 4 is a relatively large sprocket wheel 8,to which is connected an endless chaln 9 whlch furnishes power forrotating the shaft 4. The chain belt 9 may be driven in any suitablemanner, and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The shatt 4- also constitutes a pivotal support for the bucket cleaningdevice, which constitutes the subject matter of the invention. Thebucket cleaner comprises a plate member 10, which is disposed above theshaft 4, and the under side is pivotally connected to a pair of arms 11.

' The opposite ends oi the arms 11 are pivotally mounted on the shaft-l. and it will be observed that the pivotal connection between the arms11 and the plate member 10 is adjacent the forward end thereof.Detachably connected to the underside of the plate member 10 is acleaner blade or scraper 12, which is held in place by bolts and nuts13. The scraper 12 is positioned in cleaning relation to the travelingbuckets 7, and is adapted to remove the slush, dirt and stones, etc.,from the bottom of the buckets during their move ment past the cleaningdevice.

It will be apparent that the connection between the plate member 10 andshaft 4: per mits bodily movement of the plate member with respect tothe shaft, so that the cleaning device may be bodily shifted to and fromcleaning position. This movement of the cleaning device away from thebucket 7 is particularly important when the blade or scraper 12encounters an unyielding object, because unless yielding is permitted,damage to the machine would necessarily result.

In order yieldingly to hold the cleaning device in cleaning position, arack 13 is formed on the underside of the opposite end of the platemember 10, and is held in engagement with the pinion 1 1 by means oflaterally projecting flanges 15 to extend beneath keepers 16. Thekeepers 16 are provided with reverse beveled portions 17, providing ablunt point engageable with the flanges 15 to permit tilting of theplate member 10 in its movement. The pinion 14 is rotatable with a shaft18 supported by a bracket 19 and keeper brackets 20 mounted on atransverse beam 21, which is secured at its opposite ends to braces 22of the machine frame. I r I It will be understood that when the cleaningdevice: encounters an unyielding object,

, it will be swung in a counter clockwise direction (Fig; 2 and in thismovement, the rack 13 moves to the left, and during such movement,causes the pinion 14 to rotate in a counter clockwise direction. Thismovement is transmitted through the shaft 18 to a wheel 23 secured tothe outer end of the shaft 18. The wheel 23 is provided with a groovedperiphery to receive a cable 24, one end of which is secured at 25 tothe wheel 23.

The cable 24; passes upwardly from the wheel 23 underneath a guidesheave 26 and over a sheave 27 mounted on a brace 2. The opposite end ofthe cable 241 is fixed to a spool 28, about which several turns aremade. The spool 28 is fixed to a shaft 29, which is mounted for rotationin a bracket 30. he bracket 30 is suitably secured to the brace 2, andis so positioned as to be readily accessible to the operator of themachine. Mounted on the shaft 29 is a brake drum 31, which is free torotate relative to the shaft 29, and engaging the drum 31 is a brakeband 32 having suitable lining, the ends of the band being secured tothebracket 30. On one side of the spool 28 for movement therewith, is aratchet 33 engageable by a pawl 34 connected to the brake drum 31. Thepawl 34 is yieldingly held in engagement with the ratchet by a spring35. Fixed on one end of the shaft 29 is a hand wheel 36 to enable theshaft to be turned by hand.

From the above description it is apparent that when a pull is exerted onthe cable 24, the spool 28 is rotated in a counter clockwise di rection(Fig. 1) and in this direction of move ment, the ratchet 33 and pawl 34are in driving engagement so that the drum 31 is rotatcd, and thismovement is yieldingly resisted by the friction brake 32. This holds thecleaning device in fixed position with respect to the traveling buckets7 until an unyielding object or a force in excess of a predeterminednaxiimnn is encountered, and thereupon the cleaning device is bodilymoved away from cleaning position, and this move ment is resistedthrough the connections described by the friction brake.

The bucket cleaning member remains in inoperative position away fromcleaning position until returned to normal position, no automatic meansbeing provided to effectthis result. Anoutstanding characteristic ofthis invention resides in the provision of manual means for returningthe cleaning device to normal position. This manual means may also beemployed to adjust the position of the cleaning member with respectto'the buckets, and these adjustments may be effected while the machineis in operation.

As shown in the drawings, the handwheel 36 may be rotated in a clockwisedirection (Fig. 1) to wind up the cable 24. This movement is permittedbecause the pawl rides freely over the ratchet teeth, and the movementis counter to the direction of movement for clutching engagement.Winding up of the cable 24 about the spool 28 operates to rotate thepinion 14- in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2), thereby to bodily swingormove the plate member 10in a direction toward the buckets. It isobvious that the relative position of the scraper 12 and bucket 7 may beadjusted by turning the end wheel 36 to bring the scraper closer to thebottoms of the buckets in accordance with the needs of service. It ismanifest from the above description that no necessity exists forstopping the operation of the machine, as movement of the cleaningdevice may be effected by hand operated means remote from the cleaningmember, and in position to be conveniently 'manipulated by the operator.

While the form of mechanism here shown and described is admirablyadapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form ofembodiment heretion with the other end in position to clean the bottomof buckets during their travel, but adapted to yield for permittingswinging of said member about its pivot when struck by an unyieldingobject, and manually operated means remote from said cleaning member butnormally connected thereto for returning said cleaning member to normalposition.

2. The combination with a series of traveling buckets, of cleaning meanstherefor, means to mount said cleaning means for bodi- 1y movement,meansfor resisting such movement except when struck by an unyieldingobject and then capable of permitting movement, and hand operated meansremote from said cleaning means but normally connected thereto formoving said cleaning means to position for cleaning.

The combination with a series of travelingbuckets, of means for cleaningsaid buckets, said means comprising a cleaning member mounted for bodilymovement having one end positioned to clean the bottom of buckets duringtravel, friction means to hold said member in cleaning position exceptwhen struck by an unyielding objectand thereupon to permit movement ofsaid member away from cleaning position, and manually operated meansremote from said cleaning means but normally connected thereto forreturning said cleaning memberto normal position.

4. In a bucket cleaner, a support, a cleaning member bodily movable withrespect to said support, means for holding said member in apredetermined position but yieldable when said member is struck by anunyielding object, and manually operated means remote from said memberto return said member to normal position.

5. In a bucket cleaner, a support, a cleaning member bodily movable withrespect to said support, means for holding said member in apredetermined position but yieldable when said member is struck by anunyielding object, and manually operated means remote from said memberto return the same to normal position.

6. In a bucket cleaner, a support, a cleaning member bodily movable withrespect to said support, means including a brake for holding said memberin a predetermined position with one end thereof in position to cleanthe bottoms of buckets during their travel, but yieldable whenencountering a force in excess of a predetermined maximum, and manuallyoperated means remote from said cleaning member but normally connectedthereto to move said member back to cleaning position.

7. In abucket cleaner, a support, a cleaning member bodily movable withrespect to said support, means including a brake positioned at a pointremote from said member for holding said member in apredeterminedposition with one endthereof in position to clean the bottoms of bucketsduring their travel, but yieldable when encountering a force in excessof a predetermined maximum, and manually operated means to move saidmember back to cleaning position.

8-. In a bucket cleaner, a support, a cleaning member having one endthereof positioned to clean the bottoms of buckets during their travel,means for mounting said member on said support to permit bodily shiftingthereof from and to cleaning position, means engaging said cleaner forholding the same in a predetermined position except when encountered byan unyielding object and thereupon to permit movement of said cleaner,said engaging means including a friction brake, and manually operablemeans for shifting said cleaning member in one direction. i

9. The combination with a series of traveling buckets, of a cleaningmember pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, rotatable friction brakemeans, means connecting said brake means and said cleaning memberthereby to hold said member in fixed position under normal conditionsbut permitting yielding of said member when encountering an unyieldingobject, and means associated with said brake means to permit return ofsaid member to normal position.

10. The combination with a series of travelif ing buckets. of a cleaningmember pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, rotatable friction brakemeans, means connecting said brake means and said cleaning member thereby to hold said member in a predetermined position under normalconditions but permitting yielding of said member when encountering anunyielding object, and manually operated means associated with saidbrake means for returning said cleaning member to cleaning position.

11. The combination of a series of traveling buckets, a bodily movablecleaning memher having one end thereof positioned to clean the bottom ofthe buckets during their travel, a rotatable shaft mounted adjacent theopposite end of said member, a rack and pinion connection between saidcleaning member and shaft, and means for holding said shaft againstrotation thereby to fix said member in cleaning position, said holdingmeans being yieldable to permit movement of said cleaning member whenthe latter encounters an unyielding object.

12. The combination of a series of traveling buckets, a cleaning memberpivoted intermediate its ends and having one end positioned to clean thebottoms of the buckets during their travel, a brake drum, and means fortransmitting the pivotal movement of said member to rotary movement ofsaid drum whereby said drum yieldingly resists movement of said member.

13. The combination of a series of travelingbuckets, a cleaning memberbodily movable and havlng one end posltloned to cleanthe bottoms of thebuckets during theirtravel, means to resist movement of sand member 111-cluding a rotatable brake drum, a shalt adjacent said member, arack andpinion connection between said member and shaft, and a cable connectionbetween said shaft and brake drum. j

14. The combination of a series of traveling buckets, a cleaning memberbodily movable and having one end positioned to clean the bottoms of thebuckets during their travel, means to resist movement of said memberincluding a rotatable brake drum, a shaft adjacent said member, a rackand pinion connection between said member and shaft, and a cableconnection between said shaft and brake drum, and a hand wheel forWinding up said cable thereby to return said member to normal position.

15., A bucket cleaner comprising a support, a cleaner member bodilymovable with respect 'to said support, a rotatable drum, acable'lea'ding from said cleaner member and wound on said drum, and abrake for resisting rotation of said drum until a predetermined force isexerted thereon by said cable, thereby to release said cleaner memberwhen the latter encounters a substantially unyielding object. V

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification.

' HARRY B'. VAN SCOllT.

